KABUL - The First RECCA National Focal Points Meeting was held on August 26, 2017 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan with the participation of the National Focal Points from 15 RECCA regional countries as well as Ambassadors and high-level representatives from the Embassies, International Organizations and the Afghan Line Ministries.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Adela Raz, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Cooperation followed by a statement by H.E. Mohammad Ismail Rahimi, Deputy Minister of Economy, remarks and a presentation by Mr. Hassan Soroosh, Acting Director General for Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting continued during the day with interactive discussions on the RECCA VII theme, zero draft declaration, priority projects, calendar of activities, annual review as well as the program of the Ministerial Meeting to be held from 14-15 November 2017 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

“Deepening Connectivity and Expanding Trade through Investment in Infrastructure and Improving Synergy” was adopted by the National Focal Points Meeting as the theme for RECCA VII.

The participants stressed the importance of roles and responsibilities of the National Focal Points as the primary contacts with the RECCA Secretariat in the overall programming, coordination, implementation and follow-up with respect to the priority projects and activities under RECCA.

The participants decided to further work on the draft declaration and finalize it in the Second National Focal Points Meeting to be held prior to the RECCA VII Ministerial Meeting.

The RECCA National Focal Points framework has recently been established with a view to further improve programming, coordination, implementation and follow-up under RECCA.